MP seeks mega quarry answers

Alliston Herald

MELANCTHON - Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson is taking his federal government to task.

Recently, the Conservative MP, who has already called on the federal government to subject The Highland Companies’ quarry plans in Melancthon to a federal environmental assessment (EA), formally asked the Tories to explain why his request hasn’t been pursued.

“I know the federal government has been looking at the Melancthon mega-quarry project from a number of different perspectives,” Tilson said in a news release. “I’m trying to find out what information they have.”

The Highland Companies has submitted an application to the province for an aggregate licence to mine more than 2,300 acres of land in Melancthon for limestone. Prior to this October’s provincial election, John Wilkinson, Ontario Environment Minister at the time, announced The Highland Companies’ plans would be subject to a provincial EA.

There have been several requests from Ontario residents, the North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Task Force (NDACT) and other citizen coalition groups, as well as several MPs, calling on the federal government’s Ministry of the Environment to do the same.

In response to a letter he received from St. Paul’s Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett earlier this year, Canada’s Environment Minister, Peter Kent said the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency had discussed the project with other federal departments, and decided not to act on an EA.

“The agency has determined that there are no federal decisions being contemplated in relation to the project that would cause a federal environmental assessment to be required,” Kent informed Bennett in September. “Should new relevant information regarding the project come forward, the agency will review it to determine if the Act applies.”

To that end, Tilson placed his question on an Order Paper, a parliamentary procedure where MPs can ask a written question of the government, in an attempt to gain more details. Tilson also asked which departments the Minister of the Environment and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has been in contact with, and if the federal government has touched base with the province of Ontario or The Highland Companies. The federal government has 45 days to respond to Tilson’s request.

“This is a critically important issue in Dufferin County,” Tilson added. “I’m working to make sure that nothing is overlooked. Asking the government for the information it has on the project is part of that oversight process.”